You're kinda illustrating my point for me.

If Larsen would try and hang out here, you would revisit the same argument, again and again, because he disagreed with you. And it would be the same with any other pro eventually too. Whether it be you, me, Lawson whoever, eventually we'd bore them to pieces or piss the guy off enough to leave...

All he had to do was let it pass. But he not only jumped into it, he instantly started lying, saying that Byrne wasn't even one of his principle influences. When he'd already written a lengthy article saying that he was. This is the kind of personality you are siding with.

I like Erik Larsen, I like his work. I liked his reign during his days as Publisher at Image. But Allen pegged him as being highly influenced by Byrne, and Erik Larsen denied it. Vehemently. Yet had himself written that Byrne was his primal influence.

I blame Allen for it all.

I like Erik Larsen, admire what he's done with his career and have enjoyed a few personal conversations with him.

But he's absolutely one of those guys -- like some of us -- who must be right, who must win the argument, who must get the last word. Larsen probably was doomed to burn out here unless he was prepared to spend the rest of his life here.

Like, er, us.

I may not have much artistic ability, but I do have a good eye.

I recently picked out a paint color which needed to match a specific shade of brown. I would have waited until I had taken a bunch of swatches home to find a match, but the store was running a special that ended on last Sunday. The deal was too good to pass up, so I figured if it was close it wouldn't matter much. Turns out, perfect match on the first try.

Don't question my ability to see details.

So Allen the handyman buys several cans of brown paint and he asks a neighbor if the guy needs anything painted brown.

The neighbor says, "Now that you mention it, yes, my porch could use a fresh coat of paint."

He and Allen arrive at a fair price. Allen goes to work.

A couple hours later, a paint-spattered Allen knocks on the guy's door.

"I'm finished," Allen says. "Oh, and by the way, that's not a Porche you've got, that's a Mercedes."

Actually Allen, I was saying you were guilty for being exactly right. I wasn't questioning anything.

That's a funny joke. I also liked it the first time I heard it twenty years ago. The paint was for my personal use, but I did just build a porch for a guy this week, so good call.


But seriously. I once did a full page of 1-inch squares to test various brands of ink, to see the variations in shades of black.

I'm not siding with anyone.

The point I was making had nothing to do with the merits of the argument. Just that it was another example of what will happen to any pro who posts here. Not even saying it was unfair, just saying that any pro that comes here will likely eventually find reason to leave, whether they be thin-skinned or just annoyed. Fair point or no, the end result would still be the same.

Why are you re-arguing the argument?

I was having a hard time believing you lived next door to a guy who had a Mercedes.